57: Prisoner Returns

Darla

We were riding on a carriage, I, Jeremy and, Damion.

Kaleb was still at the Great city and I hadn't set my eyes upon him.

We were headed off to Sun village due to the information we had gotten concerning new attacks. My guessing was that it had something to do with our already known enemies.

I gave a look at Jeremy by my side, wishing he could understand my predicament because this village was one of the villages we had made friends with. We needed it safe.

Kaleb had gone and it was now my responsibility to oversee external forces attacks. We needed our valley safe, and also to help others the way we could.

Everything was suppose to go fine until we got a message back from Kaleb saying he had accomplished the mission.

We trained our warriors tirelessly because we couldn't afford another attack. It was high time the enemies inhale the bad air of defeat. I was going to see to the bottom of this. There wasn't a possibility that I wouldn't jump at the slightest chance to deal with these ruthless animals.

Truly, our numbers were few but our hearts were larger. We would try our possible best to erase any sort tribulation in our lives.

Clenching my fist tightly against my thigh, I tried controlling the fury I felt because lives were being lost each day in the hands of the Rocainians.

'Curses!' I mentally yelled though it came out as a whisper for I couldn't bear showcasing my emotions so easily as a leader. I was being looked upon.

"Hey," Jeremy instantly snapped me out of my miserable daydream. I faced him. "You needn't worry. Everything will be fine. Fine days shall smile at us and we would all chortle together. Never mind the rain, it always stops."

The horses attached to the carriage were controlled to make a stop. I presume we had gotten there.

Sun village, a village known for trading. We had had loads of goods being shifted from there to Raven valley. We knew good people there so it hurt to hear that the evil shoes of tragedy had stepped towards them.

I made my way out, having Damion open the carriage doors. Jeremy also stepped out and we went ahead to survey the Sun village encompassed with cabins.

The place was quiet...too quiet. I took slow gradual steps, one after the other with my eyes in search for lives. I was dressed in a gown that had black straps on my hands. I had crossed swords placed behind my back. It was a cloth given to me by the Zamahan and I could easily and freely fight in.

I paced slowly with the two men by my sides and began noticing weird movements around the village. Though the palace felt like it was abandoned, I could hear very silent whimpers of people in hidden areas.

I began searching one house after the other with my comrades.

"Darla! Over here!" Damion waved, beckoning me.

I followed him and he showed me a pertrified man, who visibly shuddered. He kept glimpsing around the place. I rushed to him with outmost concern, hunkering because was seated on a bench.

I placed my hand ontop of his shoulder unknowingly portraying how much I cared. "What happened, sir?" I inquired from the haggard appearing man.

His eyes needlessly widened and he started pointing into the air like a brainless fellow. I also noticed the few other villagers, whom I thought were survivors, reveal theirselves from their hiding place.

"Mistress, Darla," Damion whispered, "he seems off."

The man kept on demonstrating with his hands in the air. He seemed to still be caught up in the trauma of whatever event that had taken place.

My heart melted in sympathy.

"Dragons." He finally pronounced, "Dragons flying in the air. Everywhere."

What did he mean by that? I instantly recalled. "You mean Dragon soliders?"

The man nodded, grateful I understood, yet sorrowful from his trauma. "Yes."

There were deep furrows in my brows as I tried to assimilate.

Jeremy came. "Darla, I saw two flags the people recognize to be from the Dragons and the Rocainians. He said the most predictable thing ever, "I think they've joined hands."

"Jer, that's impossible. Rocainians work alone."

"Unless they have a new head." He pointed out his opinion.

I was in the central Forelene city, and also around the world, so there couldn't be a way for the said person in my current thoughts to have done this. I figured so.

"He stared... i-into our eyes as he asked us a question." the traumatized fellow uttered. "He wanted to know if we were Rocainians."

I was shocked because...

Jeremy suddenly let out, "That was the same question Damion and Gallihead had spoken of."

There was no way, as accused, that my brother, Kaleb, would've done that. He was with me few days ago...maybe there was a way maybe there wasn't.

If he was in Great city as he should be, then there wasn't a way for one person to be in two places at once, right?

"You said he looked into your eyes," Jeremy asked further, being smart, "I presume 'he' is the one who led the attack? What colour were they?"

It was true. There has to be some sort description. Perhaps slight difference in this Rocainian leader's appearance that they likened to Kaleb's. The Rocainian head would be so similar to him that would cause people to think it was Kaleb.

"Brown eyes. He's eyes were purely brown."

No. Kaleb's eyes were brownish red.

**

Days Later

Jeremy and I ventured into the woods. It was the Sun village woods that the chief and I had agreed upon meeting on this very day. It was a bright place encompassed with amber shaded leaves. The leaves fell due to the season and the merry feeling of looking at such made me realize why they called it Sun woods.

Though I heared people say it was quite the opposite during winter.

I was dragging my feet with all seriousness on my looks, when I felt a sudden pile of leaves poured at me.

I twisted back, confused, letting my eyes race around, for I was alerted. I would've even drawn out my sword, if not for the farmilar awkward smiley face I had seen.

With joy, I kicked the fallen leaves at Jeremy, although they didn't seem to reach him. Attempting again, I accidentally misses a step and fell down on Jeremy's chest.

I gave a huge grin, facing him directly while his was down. Jeremy's eyes smiled in this position. Just when I thought I was starting to get more comfortable- a sudden sttaight face appeared on my lover's face.

"Master?" Jeremy called out, slightly stunned.

I discovered, there wasn't any other person he refferd to as master except Kaleb.

"Kakeb!" I rushed to go hug him. He seemed more masculine and didn't hug me back.

I took few steps backwards inorder to get a better view of Kaleb, I saw. He seemed quiet, just like that very first time I saw him and he looked even more handsome.

Normally I knew Kaleb had unique looks, but right now I'd say I was lost in his appearance because he had grown taller and more handsome. The Great city must've changed him. But how could somebody have grown taller in just weeks.

His hair swayed by his eyes, which wasn't the usual style. He gave me a smirk and I could swear I felt hard thuds in my heart.

He was undeniably gorgeous but never had I felt this way towards Kaleb before.

His walking steps were light and cool and I could testify that the atmosphere I felt from him was strange.

How could Kaleb make me feel cringy from the way he looked at me. I loved him but never has I noticed this.

Jeremy cleared his throat as Kaleb, whom I greeted, ambled off farther. Jeremy clasped my hands. "Is it me or master looks different?"

We snobbed the attitude and made haste as we followed him.

"So, how was the Great city, sir?" Jeremy excitedly inquired. "Darla, I heared it's as big as the whole world.

"That's dumb." I playfully insulted, laughing, "Then it wouldn't fit in it."

Just when we thought we were having a moment, we had accidentally marched into the enemy's camp for there were many men in Rocainian uniforms and also in Dragons uniform.

We were being ambushed.

"Kaleb, stay behind me!" I shielded him, but he was unfazed. As the group of mixed enemies surrounded us with weapons, the damned thing didn't even move as though he had something off his sleeves.

"Krista," a different husky tone projected from the dark haired man with partly covered eyes. He was reffering to a young woman about my age. "tie them up!"

It was then I knew it wasn't Kaleb. Who was he?

After Jeremy and I were tied to a tree, the man, whom I thought was the new ruler of the Rocain land and the Dragons, who everyone had testified to have led the killings, hunkered.

"You seem over protective of my little brother." The ruler's cold voice pierced in this strangely but attractive manner. The way he squatted made him look cool, and his fingers wandered around my gace; his cold yet sensational feeling hands.

He leered in this friendly, yet evil manner, and spoke with a soft voice, "I hope you're not too close, Darling Darla?"

His attractive smile bloomed.

The strikingly handsome devil had the same kind of medallion that Kaleb had always worn. He looked so much like Kaleb, only, more matured in a way.

I instantly had a flash back of the time I was at Forelene city. The time h/n asked of where the missing part Kaleb's necklace had gone, and be answered that he had a twin.

This was Alec.

Jeremy gulped down as be stuttered, "T-t-win?"